I know I know I know I know I know I know I know you are busy. I know you are tired at the end of the day. I know your life is full. God knows this too. But you can do something.

Remember the parable of the talents how one guy was given ten, another guy was given five and the third guy was given one? The first two did something with their talents and they were praised by the master. The third guy buried his in the ground and was judged. The master tells the third guy he could have at least put it in the bank and got some interest on it. He could have at least done the minimum rather than doing nothing.

We are the same. We can at least do something. If we all do something for the kingdom a lot will get accomplished. We can all do something in our churches. If you're going to church, that's a great step. But are you doing more than that? Are you investing your time just a little bit? It could be inviting people to church. It could be cleaning the church. It could be sharing words of encouragement. It could be doing works of art. There are as many ways of sharing your talents in the church as there are people. If you don't know what to do ask God He'll give you an idea. But just don't say you are too busy. Please. We need you to do something. You need yourself to do something. We need to work together and invest in each other. We have too many surface relationships. And they make us lonely.

We are in a spiritual war and the enemy loves to lull us to sleep. Remember the ten virgins? How even the ones who had the oil were starting to fall asleep before the master arrived? We are to be alert. If we quit fighting we will fall asleep. We will start looking like the world and before you know it we won't be any different than those who don't know Jesus. And then we will be ineffective. Don't let that happen. Please.

Do you know somebody? Somebody who stays home all the time because they have to or because that is just what they do?

Does someone like this come to your mind a lot?

Maybe it's time for a visit.

Sure, you're busy. You're really busy, but it doesn't have to take a long time and a visit could bless you more than them.

This winter is hard on everyone. It's isolating a lot of people.

Sometimes isolation is a needed respite from the world, but as it goes on and on it can have disastrous effects on people without them even realizing it.

It narrows our vision of life.

It causes problems and negative feelings to appear and feel bigger than they are.

It messes with people's minds, gets their perspectives on life really screwed up.

Even if people are introverts they need people. We weren't created to live in isolation. We were created to share our talents with others which blesses us and them and also helps us feel we have purpose in this life.

Jesus says in John 15:12, "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

Years ago when we lived in our former home I had a friend named Sue (she has since gone to heaven). About once a week or so she'd come visit. We'd sit at the table, drink coffee and talk about Jesus and laugh and whatnot. She probably thought it was no big deal to visit or that she was getting encouraged when she visited me, but her visits meant the world to me. I can't even say I thought after a visit, but they worked on me.

Since I'm a full-time caregiver for my son, we are very much stay-at-home people. It gets really hard going anywhere with him and his wheelchair. He's 17 now and taller than me. He doesn't weigh more than me but transporting him and moving him is pretty much kept to a minimum for many reasons. We have a lovely life and I wouldn't give it up, but it can be isolating (especially this winter). It will get better as the weather warms and the snow melts for then he and I can sit outside and take walks and manuver the chair.

A phone call from a dear friend or a short visit or a letter encourage me greatly. They are just little things probably to the people who do the calling/visiting/sending, but to me that little touch can lift my spirit big-time.

My situation is temporary. When spring arrives this will end for me, but there are people who live this way for years, even decades. Those are the ones I want you to think about. Is there someone you can visit? Is there someone you might give a call to or write a letter? Taking that time out of your life is often inconvenient. That time might cost you financially or some other way. But you could be an answer to an unspoken prayer. You will be doing God's work. How can you or I put a price on doing the work of the Great Creator, our Heavenly Father, our Redeemer?

There are many instances where I've been part of this process -- either on the giving or the receiving end. Another example comes to mind. For the one who was the giver she probably didn't know how important that visit was but it still touches me (and it has been almost 4 years ago now). It was probably three months after my daughter died. I was sitting outside (being outside always encourages me) and one of those waves of grief was drenching me within. I could hardly breathe. I didn't know how to get up for air. All I could pray was, "Help me, Jesus."

Then a friend drove up. I got into the car with her and we just talked. I don't remember what we talked about, but I do know my soul was lifted. My friend hadn't lost a child but she had lost a beloved husband. She had experienced those waves of grief.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

She did God's work that day. She reached out to one of His kids.

Maybe you could do God's work today. It's a high calling. Call, visit, write a letter. They all appear to be small things, but they are mighty works of God.

He doesn't think someone is more qualified because they have all sorts of letters behind their name. He looks at the heart and what you have hidden there.

He's not against education of course, but it isn't necessary for everyone.

And some degrees are necessary because we sure don't want surgeons being self-taught or bridge building engineers to eyeball their project and just wing it!

God can and will use anyone He chooses to get His message out in the world.

Is He asking you to go?

Is He asking you to speak up?

Is He asking you to preach the Word?

Amos knew all about this. The king called him a prophet (because Amos was prophesying), but Amos denied it. He said, "I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me . . . and said to me, 'Go prophesy to My people'" Amos 7:14-15

Sometimes we put limits on ourselves or others. We might think he can't do that. He's not qualified. He doesn't have a theology degree. She can't do that. She isn't a preacher.

God doesn't believe in these limits. He doesn't even acknowledge them. He calls who He calls.

Ask the original disciples. Pete was a fisherman. Matt was a tax collector. None of them were priests.

"but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;" 1 Peter 3:15

If you read the first few chapters of Genesis you will find that the first uniquely spiritual call God puts on a life which is answered by the one who is called in a deliberate manner is the one found in Genesis 17:5 when God gives Abram a new name and calls him the father to many nations.

Adam and Noah both had calls on their lives too, but their calls were different than Abraham's. Adam was told to name all the animals. Noah was told to build the ark.

Back to Abraham -- his call was to be a father.

Oh, I am muddling this up. I bring this up because I want to illustrate that God places a huge importance on parenthood.

Many people are parents.

Many people who are parents didn't choose parenthood.

And there are people who want to be parents but aren't for some reason.

We can be parents and do a pretty good job at it without deliberately choosing to do it. We do things automatically. We provide. We discipline. We make sure our children are fed.

But I believe God wants more from parents. As He chooses us He wants us to choose parenthood deliberately -- to embrace the high call of parenting and see what an incredible and important and vital the roles of mother and father are.

If we've chosen to be parents everything we do should make us better parents.

Everything we choose to do, choose to think, choose to spend our time on should somehow equip us to be the parents God has called us to be.

Sometimes this means time away from the children.

Sometimes this means not choosing a certain job because that job will take us away too much even though it might pay tons.

Sometimes it might mean choosing a path that others just don't understand.

Above is one of my eight blessings (I count my two adult stepsons and my daughter who now lives in heaven in that number -- we have five children who live at home. My son above is one of them). Hawken is his name. Hawken is almost 14. He and I stay home together. We read a lot. And as he gets older his needs increase. He is not yet 100 pounds, but let me tell you, I have some nice biceps from lifting him his whole life.

I know some question why I spend my days with Hawken, especially during the school year. I could put him in school. I could send him to Children's Care Hospital and School in Sioux Falls. If I did these things I could get a job away from home and make money for our family.

But it isn't what he needs.

And it isn't what the rest of my family needs.

One of my favorite little scenes from a movie is between Grandpa George and Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Please read below:

George: There's plenty of money out there. They print more every day. But this ticket— There are only five of them in the whole world, and that's all there's ever going to be. Only a dummy would give this up for something as common as money. Are you a dummy?

Charlie: No, sir.

George: Then get that mud off your pants. (gives two thumbs up) You've got a factory to go to!

Why would I choose "something as common as money" over time with my children?

"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about." John 13:3-4

It is that knowing that is key to be able to serve God freely, to be fully ourselves. When we know that we know that we know that God is our Father, that all things belong to Him (and then also to us) we can let go of all personal self-serving agendas, offenses, defenses, and just serve and love those around us. We will have nothing to prove to anyone. We will not have to answer to anyone but God.

Jesus is 100% God and 100% human. We aren't. But we do have the mind of Christ. We have the Holy Spirit within us. Jesus Himself said we'd do greater things than Him, not because we are greater, but because His power, the power of Almighty God is within us! If we could grasp that nothing could stop us.

Know,know, know your position in God and in this world.

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." Ephesians 1:18

Who is Jane Hinrichs?

Jane is a wife, a mom, a writer, an artist, a lover of the Word of God. She has been studying the Bible since 1987 and has been writing about it almost since then. She loves to hear from her readers. Email her at:JaneHinrichs@mail.com